tonight, the staggering new projections. covid-19 deaths in america could skyrocket to 3,000 people a day by june 1st. nearly double the number dying right now. a draft government report reveals as more states begin reopening while in other places, stay at home tensions erupt and tonight, three people charged with the murder of a curity guard in what police say was an argument over not wearing a mask also, the new protections inside dozens of malls now back in business and the airlines requiring passengers to wear masks starting today what if you refuse and after deadly outbreaks at sea, the cruise line already planning to set sail again.

the new limits on how much beef and pork you can buy at major supermarket chains as concerns grow over the food supply >> the new reporting on covid-19 and children the rare mystery condition. >> her heart was barely pumping, barely functioning. >> what parents need to know. can antibody tests really tell if you have immunity and how reliable are they? the fda's new crackdown. the longest lockdown in europe beginning to lift richard engel in italy. and tributes pouring in for the winningest coach in nfl history. >> announcer: this is "nbc nightly news" with lester holt. good evening, everyone a stunning and brutal reality check tonight. some of the worst fears of public health experts now outlined in projections provided to the government and reported today that show the number of daily coronavirus deaths in the u.s. could nely double to

3,000 a day with overall covid deaths in this country pushing towards 70,000, the new undercut some of the optimism fueling returns to business as usual across the country. our reporting tonight begins with peter alexander. >> reporter: with more states starting to ease restrictions and reopen their economies, a sobering new projection inside a draft government report from the trump administration warning of the possible consequences predicting by june 1st, the daily death toll from the coronavirus could nearly double to 3,000 and the number of cases could jump to 200,000 a day. "the new york times" obtained the internal document which sited projections from a john hopkins university model. former fda commissioner says there could be an alarming new reality in some states that are reopening now. despite not seeing a decrease in cases. >> as you start to reopen the economy, as people start to interact more, they stop the social distancing, that slow

burn of infection could ignite at any point. >> reporter: it comes as president trump is revising his projection for the number of lives lost two weeks ago saying the death toll could be as low as 50,000 but on sunday saying it will likely be significantly higher. >> look, we're going to lose anywhere from 75, 80 to 100,000 people that's a horrible thing. we shouldn't lose one person over this. >> reporter: tonight, the white house and the cdc are disavowing the draft document and say g it's not their document and not reflective of any odd modelling done by the task force. the creator of the john hopkins model saying the projections were unfinished and not intended to be a forecast but adding there are reopening scenarios where it could get out of control very quickly gotly noting cases are expanding in 20 states. >> it may be the case that we have literally tens of thousands of infections every day and we have to learn how to reduce our risk and how to live in an environment where the backdrop is that there's going

to be continued spread of this virus. >> reporter: tonight, another model sited by the white house is projecting the death toll will reach 134,000, that would mean as many americans could lose their lives in the months ahead as have died so far. lester >> all right peter, thank you. even with those troubling new projections, more states are letting businesses reopen despite the risks while others are taking a more cautious approach sparking new protests we get the latest from nbc's miguel almaguer. >> reporter: tonight in california where stay-at-home orders remain in effect, business as usual has never looked so shocking from restaurants near los angeles to cities outside sacramento open defiance from local leaders and businesses, flouting mandates now seven weeks old. >> we can't stop working. we can't stop living. >> reporter: with a course of protests growing louder across

the country, tempers are flaring at capitols. >> let's go back to work. >> reporter: city centers and on street corners in new york, a police officer punched a bystander after attempting to enforce social distancing orders. in michigan, three people now charged with killing a security guard who was shot after a dispute with a customer over a face mask. police are also looking for this man who wiped his nose on a clerk's shirt when asked why he wasn't wearing a face covering in arizona where emergency orders were extended, at least two county sheriffs say they won't enforce the measures. >> we don't want to create criminals out of innocent people. >> reporter: but in chicago a different message from the mayor of several parties over the weekend. >> don't make us treat you like a criminal, but if you act like a criminal and you violate the law and you refuse to do what is necessary to save lives in this city in the middle of a pandemic, we will take you to jail, period. >> reporter: amid warmer weather

and growing angst about staying home, today six more states partially reopened in florida, some shops and restaurants can open with reduced capacity while miami remains shut down, beaches in clear water are open with people spread out in states where the lockdown lingers, it could take months to reopen some businesses and that is driving the protests and defiance we're seeing across the nation. >> we have to respect this process for what it is it is a killer. >> reporter: but in philadelphia, vida walker wants demonstrators to remember her husband james, the philadelphia police officer who lost his life after getting sick on the job. >> even if the whole world opens back up tomorrow, do not just go outside and back to life as normal. >> reporter: tonight, the fight is reopen and to save lives. miguel almaguer, nbc news, los angeles.

>> reporter: i'm blayne alexander as states and stores start to reopen, things are looking very different. at malls, masks, blocked off areas and areas taped to the ground are the norm trying to strike that balance between the safety of americans and the health of the economy. and for some, lining up to get inside, it's working. >> we're probably going to get viewed as not doing what we should by getting out, but we're going to do it anyway. >> reporter: but open malls do not mean open stores at these two shopping centers near atlanta, only a hand full of stores were open. >> not normal. >> reporter: many of the big chains still shuttered but macy's, america's largest department store chain opened 68 locations today. most fitting rooms will be closed and any clothing tried on or returned will be held for 24 hours before going on the shelf. no more services that require close contact like makeup trials, fittings and alterations and plexi glass barriers best buy will open 200 stores

this month but shopping by appointment only costco is resuming normal hours and requiring that all shoppers cover their faces. whole foods will be requesting the same and handing out disposable masks, and more starbucks locations are brewing again but for now, it's drive-through and takeout only experts say some of the smaller stores may feel pressure to reopen faster because they don't have the online presence or financial cushion of bigger chains but for all stores, bills ar due. >> when the malls shut down, it's easier for retailers to ask for relief but when the mall can be open, it's tough to make that ask that you're not quite ready to pay the rent. >> reporter: tonight j. crew is the first big-name brand to declare bankruptcy they could lose $900 million this year. lester >> all right, blayne alexander, thank you. with the virus forcing big meat processing plants to shut down, the ripple

effect is growing with major grocery chains limiting how much meat shoppers can buy we get more on that story from gabe gutierrez. >> reporter: with more and more empty shelves, kroger says it will limit ground beef and poultry purchases in some stores and costco is restricting fresh beef, poultry and pork to three per customer. >> i was able to score on one. >> reporter: the cdc says 5,000 meat and poultry plant workers contracted coronavirus in 115 plants across 19 states social distancing and other measures are now slowing down plants nationwide. >> what you see with this is less supplies and higher prices and whether we're talking beef, pork, chicken, lamb, whatever your favorite is, really we are already seeing really skyrocketing prices. >> reporter: after being closed for two weeks, this meat processing plant in south dakota where hundreds of workers got sick partially

reopened today it's installed new physical barriers on the production floor and taking the temperatures of its workers. a closed tyson plant in indiana is set to restart production this week, but a federal strike force is now in amarillo, texas after a surge of covid-19 cases at local plants there. >> they will bring resources and strategies they have been using in other beef packing plants. >> reporter: president trump invoked the defense production act to order meat plants to stay open deeming them essential. >> plants with no problem at all, then down have somewhere it was a hot spot those people are tending to get better very quickly. >> reporter: some workers say they're scared to go back to work. >> it's kind of hard to have social distance and you work side by side i don't know what they can do to really ease the tension. >> reporter: experts say there is no mass food shortage here in the u.s. but they warn panic buying could lead to spot shortages across the country. lester >> gabe gutierrez, thanks. the big changes

coming to travel airlines requiring passengers to wear face masks during their entire fight and a major cruise company already talking about launching new voyages. here is tom costello. >> reporter: with the nation's airlines fighting for their survival, new rules to keep both crew members and passengers safe as of today, passengers on jetblue, delta and united must join crew members in wearing masks from the moment they check in by next monday, frontier, american, alaska and southwest will also require masks. some airlines will provide them to those who don't have them. if passengers refuse, they could be denied boarding faith newly married on zoom was today flying from new >> most people are wein >> reporter: every airline deep cleaning their planes, enforcing social distancing and limiting the number of passengers leaving middle seats open,

south west ceo gary kelly. >> we're doing everything we can to make it as safe as humanly possible. >> reporter: today airline stocks slit further after billionaire investor warren buffet sold his airline holdings. >> the future is much less clear to me, how the business will turn out. >> reporter: at tampa international airport, passenger volume down a staggering 97% the airport now encouraging face masks, more cleaning, more hand sanitizer, plastic shields at ticket counters and floor markings to keep everyone separate. >> i would say somewhere between two to four years before we get back to precovid levels that's what forecasters are telling us. >> reporter: meanwhile, carnival cruise line in dire straights says it hopes to sail on august 1st despite cdc concerns that cruise ships exacerbate the virus' spread and uber asking drivers and passengers to wear masks. back here at the nation's deserted airports, the numbers

are alarming on sunday, just 170,000 people flew nationwide. a year ago on the same day, 2.5 million people flew. lester >> tom costello, thanks. in 60 seconds, the new alert about coronavirus and kids mysterious symptoms being reported what every parent should hear.

back now with the rare mystery condition linked to covid-19 in kids dr. john torres reports now on what every parent needs to know. >> reporter: juliette had been a healthy 12-year-old until severe stomach pains sent her to the hospital. >> i thought, like, things were breaking apart really quickly and that everything was terrible. >> reporter: julie tested positive for covid-19, which doctors believe triggered a rare and serious complication, cardiac arrest. >> her heart was barely pumping

it was barely functioning. >> reporter: across the country, doctors in coronavirus hot spots are reporting an increasing number of kids with severe inflammation affecting the heart and other organs in this long island hospital there are 17 cases in the last week. >> we just admitted another two last night i have six in my intensive care unit now. >> reporter: today the world's top experts identifying a new syndrome in kids linked to covid-19 inflammation that can send the body into a state of shock and cause organ failure. parents should watch for symptoms like fever with a rash, red eyes or abdominal pain, which was juliette daily's main symptom. she's expected to make a full recovery and has this message about social distancing. >> we have to wait it out and be cautious and try to stay alive. >> and bringing in dr. torrez john, parents will hear this and understandably may be worried,

what should they know? >> lester, this is a rare complication, but we are seeing more cases of covid-19 in kids which is why the government is studying children to learn who has immunity and who is at greater risk this information will help officials make decisions about reopening schools. lester >> dr. john, thanks very much. in the search for solutions tonight, a crackdown on the flood of inaccurate antibody tests on the market and the president raising hopes of a vaccine by the end of the year can it be done here is stephanie gosk. >> reporter: today, the fda put the brakes on antibody tests. roughly 200 hit the market in recent weeks amid few restrictions now the agency says guard rails are needed writing in part, we unfortunat actors rk test kits to take advantage of americans. so far the fda granted emergency authorization to 12 antibody tests. the makers of the rest will have

to apply within ten days showing positive readings are 90% accurate and negative readings 95%. anyone looking to be tested should make sure the test used is on the fda's short list there are some clinics like this one offering anybody tests with doctors offices and hospitals. there are no fda authorized at home antibody tests. the existence of antibodies proven someone has been exposed and while health experts believe they could provide protection from the virus, so far they don't know for sure. >> it's certainly worthwhile if you're conducting studies in a given town to know people that have been infected with the virus. >> reporter: it's good for research i doesn't punch my ticket to go walk out on the streets and do whatever i want. >> that's right. we still don't know what being antibody positive means. >> reporter: in south korea there were reports of people being reinfected now health officials say there were errors on testing but with uncertainty remaining about

antibodies, finding a vaccine is more important. >> i think we'll have a vaccine by the end of the year the doctors would say well, you shouldn't say that i'll say what i think. >> reporter: there are promising signs. six vaccines are already being tested in human clinical trials, and dozens more are in development. dr. peter hotez who is developing a vaccine himself worries that trying to speed up the process may sacrifice the public's confidence. >> i don't think we should have magical thinking that we're going to have a vaccine in the matter of weeks or months. >> reporter: there is no way to cut corners he says. a safe, effective and trusted vaccine takes time stephanie gosk, nbc news, new york up next for us tonight, richard engel inside in italy now reopening.

tonight one of the hardest hit countries is finally starting to reopen our richard engel is in italy. >> reporter: italy is coming back and life is finally returning to the eternal city at rome's overlooking st. peters basilica, first walks, first jogs, parks had been off limits until now. this is the first time carlo and francesca have been out of their homes since italy went into a total lockdown nearly two months ago. happy you're out in

the sunshine >> i'm very happy. >> reporter: it's stupendous shining e sun that's he sd. italy was hard hit by covid with ound 1,000 deaths a day. no deaths are down up to 75% on some days but italy is opening cautiously restaurants are op just for takeaway real estate agts and eyeglaes shops on, too. the deputy health minister told me businesses were chosen that don't draw crowds as a test for the rest. >> i believe that we will restart entirely over the next month. >> reporter: but this 100-year-old family-owned bakery made everything here for today, but barely sold anything people are still scared to come out sergio told me it's not yet in italy but today life here got a little sweeter. officials here told me today's partial reopenings put 4.5 million people back to work.

>> richard engel tonight, thank you. up next, remembering a legend who pulled off something no one else has done in history finally he led his team to

finally he led his team to the only perfect season in nfl history. our kerry sanders remembers the legendary don shula. >> don shula was the architect, coach of precision and numbers. 347 more wins than any

other coach in nfl history 7-8 back to back super bowl wins but one number speaks of his greatness, 17-0. the perfect season no nfl team before or after has ever achieved what shula's 1972 dolphins did coach shula's success was in large part because he knew the game from the muddy gridiron as a player for the browns, comments and redskins. when he was but 33 years old, the colts made shula the league's youngest ever coach. in miami today where his name is on highways and stake houses, ing a -- and respect for a hall of famer as a long-time reporter in south florida i spent time with shula at news conferences where he would say he was going to speak at noon, he'd speak exactly at noon whether the cameras were rolling or not

coach shula didn't suffer fools tonight a legend that studies mathematics in college adding one more were in to his exacting life he lived an extraordinary 90 years. kerry sanders, nbc news, miami. and that's "nightly news. i'm lester holt. please take care of yourself and each other i. right now at 6:00, governor newsom unveiling when the state will start to ease restrirkss this week. to it's not good news for a lot of people in the bay area. the news at 6:00 starts right now. good evening and thanks for being with us.

>> are we ready? i talked to a medical expert about reopening. i took a poll about how many of us are going through quarantine fatigue. i will send it back to you. >> thank you. governor newsom giving none essential businesses the green light to reopen. we will had move in phase two of his plan to get people back to work. some stores like florists and bookstores will be open. he plans to release guidelines thursday. he stressed each county will keep businesses closed if they don't feel they are ready for the next phase. >> they have guidelines where they are a little strict. if they choose not to come in compliance with the state guidelines, they have that right. >> now we e did check in with counties